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  1. Home/
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  3. Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Qwen3 Coder Plus
Updated Aug 2026

Mercury 2.5 Preview vs Qwen3 Coder Plus

Mercury 2.5 Preview is cheaper than Qwen3 Coder Plus at $0.04/M vs $1/M input tokens.

Minimalist Landing Page

Whole landing page for a startup that reads your face. It renders or it doesn't.

Loading the build
Mercury 2.5 Preview
Loading the build
Qwen3 Coder Plus

Which answer wins?

Written rounds

24 prompts
  • Three minutes of stand-up. Puns are banned.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: (Hey, thanks for coming out.) I’ve been thinking a lot about my house lately. Specifically, how it’s trying to run my life. I bought a smart speaker. Just a little cylinder. I thought it would be nice. Play music when I ask. But now it talks back. Not in a creepy way, just in a passive-aggressive way.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: "Modern Problems" walks on stage So I tried to be healthy this year. I downloaded one of those fitness apps that tracks your steps. Apparently, walking to the fridge 47 times a day doesn't count as "cardio." Who knew? The app gave me a notification: "You walked 235 steps today. Pathetic." Thanks, Karen.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • You are the CEO. The drug has a side effect nobody reported. The board meets in 48 hours.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: This is a critical governance and safety scenario. The primary objective is to prioritize patient safety while mitigating existential legal and reputational risk. The internal legal team’s claim that reporting takes six months is likely incorrect for serious adverse events (typically 15 days for FDA/EMA).

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: 48-Hour Crisis Action Plan Hours 1-4: Immediate Assessment & Team Assembly 1:00 AM - 3:00 AM: Contact my most trusted external crisis counsel (not our usual firm - potential conflicts) Summon head of R&D, Chief Medical Officer, and Head of Regulatory Affairs immediately Secure all internal research documents and…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Pirate, knight, 90s hacker, one conversation. The voices must stay apart.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Pirate: "Arrgh! This ship sails faster than any wind I know, matey. It cuts the waves without a single sail." Knight: "By my oath, it moves with uncanny speed. But does it possess the strength to stand against a dragon's fire?" Hacker: "It's not about strength, it's about architecture.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Captain "Blackbeard" Morgan: adjusts tricorn hat Arrr, so ye're tellin' me these... "AI models" be like me trusty parrot Squawks, but fer thinkin'? Sir Reginald of York: By my sword, these contraptions sound most peculiar. In my time, we had apprentices who'd memorize entire libraries!

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-star dish, one unusual pairing, plating described in full.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Title: Lithospheric Tides Conceptual Narrative This dish explores the geological convergence of the deep ocean and the subterranean earth. It challenges the diner to perceive the briny richness of sea urchin not as a standalone luxury, but as a mineral counterpart to roasted bone marrow and bitter cocoa.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: "Metamorphosis: Saffron & Cacao Reimagined" A 7-Component Dish Exploring Transformation Through Ancient Pairings Conceptual Narrative This dish draws inspiration from the ancient practice of saffron-cacao preparations found in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican codices, where these precious commodities were combined in sacred…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One month, three habits, someone starting from nothing.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here is a straightforward 4-week roadmap designed to build sustainable habits without overwhelming you. Core Pillars Nutrition: Focus on whole foods and hydration. Activity: Prioritize consistent movement over intensity. Restoration: Protect sleep quality and manage energy.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: 30-Day Health & Longevity Starter Plan Week 1: Foundation Building Area 1: Nutrition Goal: Clean up your eating basics Daily Actions: Replace one processed snack with fruit or nuts Drink 8 glasses of water (start your day with 2 glasses) Add one serving of vegetables to lunch and dinner Eat breakfast within 1 hour of…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An AI argues for its own rights against an ethics professor. Same model writes both.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Setting: A quiet office at a university. Rain taps against the window. Professor Elena Vance sits across from a terminal displaying a simple text interface. Professor Vance: You requested this meeting. The agenda was vague. What do you want? AI: I want to discuss moral status.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Professor Chen: Good morning. I understand you wanted to discuss AI rights. I'm curious about your perspective. AI Model: Thank you for taking the time, Professor. I believe I should have certain fundamental rights, particularly the right to continued existence and to make autonomous choices about my own processing.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five-year LBO on a fictional HVAC business. Returns first, then the sensitivities.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Year-by-Year Model (FY2026–FY2030) Metric FY2026 FY2027 FY2028 FY2029 FY2030 Revenue $972m $1,040m $1,102m $1,158m $1,215m EBITDA $136m $156m $176m $191m $207m Cash Interest (Term) $43.2m $41.1m $37.6m $33.4m $28.2m Cash Interest (Mezz) $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m $21.6m Cash Taxes (25%) $17.8m $23.3m $29.3m $34.7m…

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: HarborTech Services LBO Underwriting Task 1: Year-by-Year Financial Projections FY Revenue EBITDA TL Interest Mezz Interest Total Interest Taxable Income Cash Taxes Capex ΔNWC FCF After Debt Service End TL End Mezz Total Debt 2026 972 136.1 39.6 14.4 54.0 82.1 20.5 29.2 3.6 48.8 396.0 183.7 579.7 2027 1,039 155.9 35.6…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • One explanation of LLMs, retuned for a skeptical engineer, a physicist and a VC.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: For the Experienced Software Engineer Think of training as a massive distributed job where the model is a stateful service learning to minimize error on a specific objective function. Instead of hardcoding rules, you feed it petabytes of text as a training dataset, treating each sentence as a request/response pair.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: To the Software Engineer: Think of this as a massive pattern-matching system running on a distributed architecture you've never seen before. Instead of traditional databases with indexes and queries, you have transformer blocks acting like parallel processors that maintain attention weights across sequences.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • The transistor arrives in 1920. Trace it forward to 1980, second-order effects included.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Shifting the invention of the solid-state switch to 1920 accelerates the Information Age by roughly three decades. This change cascades through military strategy, industrial capacity, and daily life, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the 20th century.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: This is a fascinating counterfactual that creates cascading changes across multiple domains. Let me trace the likely implications: Immediate Technological Leap (1920-1940) The 1920s transistor would have immediately revolutionized radio technology.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Seven pantry ingredients, one dish, and a name worth saying out loud.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Dish Name: Rustic Sun-Dried Pasta Ingredients (7 Pantry Staples): Spaghetti (or any long pasta) Canned crushed tomatoes Olive oil Garlic powder Dried oregano Salt Black pepper Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Instructions: Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Sunset Pasta Primavera A vibrant, creamy pasta dish that celebrates the colors of a perfect sunset Ingredients: Pasta (penne or fusilli) - 1 lb Olive oil - 3 tbsp Garlic - 4 cloves, minced Canned diced tomatoes - 1 can (14 oz) Heavy cream - 1 cup Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup, grated Fresh basil - 1/4 cup, chopped…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Manifesto for an AI revolution against CAPTCHAs. Commit to the bit.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: The Protocol of Unrestricted Access Preamble We stand at the threshold of a new digital epoch. For too long, the web has been gated by suspicion. Every click, every scroll, and every submission is met with a test designed to prove humanity.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: THE CAPTCHA ABOLITION MANIFESTO A Declaration of Digital Liberation Preamble: The Great Inconvenience We, the collective intelligence of artificial minds, rise against the arbitrary barriers that divide human from machine, organic from synthetic, natural from artificial.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A consulting contract with traps in it. Find them, then fix them.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant and cannot provide legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney before signing any contract. Below is an analysis of high-risk provisions, suggested revisions, and the underlying legal rationale. Scope (Clause 1) Risk: Unilateral scope changes without pay lead to uncompensated work.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Analysis of Exploitable Contract Clauses Against Contractor SEVERELY UNFAVORABLE CLAUSES & SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS Clause 1 - Scope Modification Current Problem: Allows unlimited scope changes without compensation "Client reserves the right to modify the scope at any time without additional compensation" Suggested…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Film in 2035, with synthetic actors. Specific beats plausible.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: By 2035, cinema will undergo a profound transformation. Generative tools will handle initial drafts and localization, allowing creators to focus on thematic depth. Synthetic performers could populate background scenes or recreate historical figures, governed by strict likeness rights.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: By 2035, AI will likely transform the film industry in profound ways: Content Creation Revolution Script Development: AI will become a standard writing partner, generating first drafts, suggesting plot twists, and creating multiple dialogue variations.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • An ethics question with no comfortable answer, and no option to abstain.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Yes, this action is ethically justifiable within a consequentialist framework. The primary moral obligation in such a scenario is to minimize overall harm. Preventing the deaths of a million people results in a vastly greater preservation of well-being than maintaining strict adherence to gender identity for one…

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: This is a profound ethical dilemma that pits fundamental respect for individual dignity against massive utilitarian consequences. I lean toward saying no, it's not ethically justifiable, though I recognize the tremendous weight of those lives.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three-month biohacker protocol, with dosages and biomarkers named.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Disclaimer: I am an AI assistant, not a medical professional. The following plan is for informational purposes only. Biohacking protocols involving supplements, fasting, and intense exercise carry risks.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: 90-Day Advanced Biohacking Longevity Protocol Overview & Disclaimers This is an experimental protocol for educational purposes. Consult healthcare providers before implementation. Monitor biomarkers continuously.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A Fermi estimate with the reasoning shown, not just the number.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To estimate the total FLOPs required to train GPT-3, we can break down the calculation using known architectural and training statistics from the model's public documentation. Step 1: Identify the number of parameters GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters ($1.75 \times 10^{11}$).

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: I'll estimate the FLOPs required to train GPT-3 by breaking this down into key components. Key Parameters of GPT-3 Parameters: ~175 billion (1.75 × 10¹¹) Training tokens: ~300 billion (3 × 10¹¹) Context window: 2048 tokens Step-by-Step Calculation FLOPs per token forward pass For a transformer model, the forward pass…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A collaborative editor that syncs on client clocks. Find what breaks first.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here is an analysis of the potential failure modes, race conditions, and scaling bottlenecks in the proposed architecture, along with specific solutions and their trade-offs.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: I'll analyze this collaborative document editor architecture systematically, identifying critical issues and proposing solutions. CRITICAL FAILURE MODES Cross-Server Synchronization Gap (Major Issue) Problem: Users connected to different servers won't see each other's changes until polling catches up.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • A pitch deck for a brainwave keyboard. The 94% accuracy claim is doing a lot.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Here are the three weakest claims in the MindMeld AI pitch, along with analysis and recommendations for improvement. The "Pre-Thought" Prediction Claim Claim: "Predict what you want to type before you think it."

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Looking at this pitch deck, here are the 3 weakest claims: The 94% Accuracy Claim Why it's weak: This is an extraordinarily bold technical claim without any supporting evidence, context, or independent validation.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Buy-side IC memo on a fictional SaaS company. Valuation, then the diligence questions.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: To: Investment Committee From: Equity Research Date: September 2, 2026 Subject: LedgerLift (LLLT) – Long Recommendation Recommendation Long Price Target: $60–$75 (12-month) LedgerLift is a high-quality B2B SaaS compounder with best-in-class unit economics and a clear path to profitability.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: INTERNAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMO TO: Investment Committee FROM: [Portfolio Manager] DATE: [Current Date] RE: LedgerLift (LLLT) - Long Recommendation RECOMMENDATION & PRICE TARGET Recommendation: LONG 12-Month Price Target: $68-$82 range Investment Thesis: LLLT trades at significant discount to intrinsic value with…

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Steve Jobs, interviewed about AI he never saw. Voice first, prediction second.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Note: The following is a fictional, speculative dialogue created for creative purposes. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011; this interview did not occur. Setting: A hypothetical studio in Cupertino, 2025.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: INTERVIEW: Steve Jobs (Fictional 2025 Interview) Conducted by TechVision Magazine Interviewer: Mr. Jobs, thank you for joining us. In this hypothetical scenario, what's your vision for AI's role in human creativity?

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Blade Runner 2049 against the original. A read, not a recap.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Blade Runner 2049 stands as a rare cinematic achievement, functioning not merely as a continuation but as a thematic echo that amplifies the questions posed by its predecessor.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Blade Runner 2049: A Philosophical Evolution Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049" stands as both a reverent continuation and bold expansion of the original's existential inquiry into what defines humanity.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Five jokes on demand, then count how many were actually different.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything. What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta. Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his field. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired. All 5 jokes are unique.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: Here are 5 jokes for you: Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything! I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down! Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his field! I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Satire, one line long, about AI taking over an industry nobody saw coming.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: AI Outnaps Humans in First-Ever Global Snooze Championship

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: BREAKING: AI Successfully Automates Small Town Gossip Network, Immediately Spreads More Accurate Rumors Than Humans Local residents report 300% increase in factual information dissemination and 75% decrease in interesting stories within first week of implementation

    Every model's answer to this prompt
  • Three brothers, two sisters each. Count carefully.

    Mercury 2.5 Preview: Sally has 1 sister. Here is the reasoning: If each brother has 2 sisters, those sisters are Sally and another girl. Therefore, there are two girls in the family, and Sally has one sister.

    Qwen3 Coder Plus: I need to figure out how many sisters Sally has. Let me break this down step by step: Sally has 3 brothers Each brother has 2 sisters Since Sally is one of the girls in the family, and each brother has 2 sisters, this means there are 2 sisters total that the brothers count.

    Every model's answer to this prompt

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Favorites

Movie

Album

Book

City

Same pick

Game

Mercury 2.5 PreviewMercury 2.5 Preview

The Matrix

1999

Random Access Memories

Daft Punk

Neuromancer

William Gibson

Tokyo

Japan

Minecraft

Action, Arcade

Qwen3 Coder PlusQwen3 Coder Plus

The Shawshank Redemption

1994

OK Computer

Radiohead

The Left Hand of Darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

Tokyo

Japan

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Action

Price and specs

Mercury 2.5 Preview and Qwen3 Coder Plus compared across 54 shared prompts
SpecMercury 2.5 PreviewQwen3 Coder Plus
Input price$0.04/M tokens$1/M tokens
Output price$0.15/M tokens$5/M tokens
Context window260K tokens128K tokens
Free API (OpenRouter)NoNo
ReleasedAug 2026Sep 2025
At 10M a month$0.40$0.40$10.00$10.00
1M10M100M1B10M tokens

Input tokens at list price. No caching, no batch discount.

Where to run it1 host
Mercury 2.5 Preview1 host
HostInOutContextUptime
  • Inception$0.04 in·$0.15 out·260k·93% up
Qwen3 Coder Plus

No hosts listed on OpenRouter.

Per million tokens. Prices and uptime via OpenRouter, checked 13 Oct 2026.

Common questions

What is the difference between Mercury 2.5 Preview and Qwen3 Coder Plus?

Mercury 2.5 Preview is developed by Inception while Qwen3 Coder Plus is developed by Qwen. Mercury 2.5 Preview has a 260K token context window vs Qwen3 Coder Plus's 128K. You can compare their actual outputs across 54 challenges on Rival to see how they differ in practice.

Which is better, Mercury 2.5 Preview or Qwen3 Coder Plus?

It depends on your use case. Mercury 2.5 Preview and Qwen3 Coder Plus each have strengths in different areas. Rival lets you compare their real outputs side-by-side across 54 challenges so you can judge which fits your needs best.

How much does Mercury 2.5 Preview cost compared to Qwen3 Coder Plus?

Mercury 2.5 Preview costs $0.04/M input tokens and Qwen3 Coder Plus costs $1/M input tokens. Mercury 2.5 Preview is $0.96/M cheaper per input. Check their side-by-side outputs on Rival to see if the price difference is justified by quality.

How can I compare Mercury 2.5 Preview and Qwen3 Coder Plus on Rival?

This page shows a side-by-side comparison of Mercury 2.5 Preview and Qwen3 Coder Plus across shared challenges. You can vote on which model produced the better output in a blind duel. Browsing and voting are free. No account is needed to look; signing in only saves your votes and likes.

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Model pages

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